“The most significant outcome of this course for me was deeply personal. I woke up the day after the course ended feeling healed in a way I did not know I needed to be healed. Something in me shifted…and I feel profoundly grateful for that unexpected gift.”
J.G., Spring 2026
Heart & Hands Beginning Intensives
Elizabeth Davis, Director/Instructor
Purpose | Who May Attend | Format | Course Content | Skills & Demonstrations
Schedule, Fees & Registration | Upon Completion | The Instructor
Elizabeth Davis (bottom row, center) with Heart & Hands students
Our history: Heart & Hands Midwifery Intensives were founded by Elizabeth Davis in 1982. The course was developed at the request of a group of birth assistants seeking to acquire practical midwifery skills. Over the years and by demand, the course has evolved to include basic introductory information and an emphasis on the intuitive, interpersonal skills essential to effective midwifery care.
Our new virtual format allows students from all over the country to attend, creating more diversity in our classroom. Limited to 12 students, everyone has ample opportunity to ask questions and participate in group discussions, with a fully live format that offers the benefits of onsite classes – group interaction and support in a demonstration-rich format.
Additionally, this course covers the core curriculum and most basic skills of Midwife Assistant Training.
“The class meetings through Zoom were a new approach for me as I have been accustomed to courses in person, especially when they entail much anatomical and physiological information. However, Elizabeth did a phenomenal job at presenting the information in a manner that was easy to understand even through distance learning.”
M.S. Winter 2021
WHAT WILL I GAIN FROM THIS COURSE?
The purpose of Heart & Hands Beginning Intensives is to provide a strong and integrated foundation in the art and science of midwifery, as well as:
PREPARATION FOR THE NARM EXAM: “Heart & Hands ” is the top text used to prepare for the exam, and this course will take you deep enough to master the information.
READINESS TO APPRENTICE: Reading the text is not enough; this course provides the context to illustrate how the information can be wisely used.
PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS/REFERENCES: I routinely provide these for my former students, regardless of the reason or the educational pathway they have chosen.
CONTINUED FOLLOW UP: Whatever your next steps in training, I will be available to hear your concerns and provide feedback.
SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE: Such a challenge–but I will do my best to help you find staying power in your work.
“I feel like I have been inducted into a lineage, and I feel honored to be part of it. It reminds me somewhat of marital arts, where the knowledge and discipline are passed directly from teacher to student.”
J. G., Spring 2026
WHO MAY PARTICIPATE
Heart & Hands Beginning Intensives are ideal for those interested in discovering their unique relationship to the art and practice of midwifery. Students in the health field, therapists, nutritionists, childbirth educators and doulas – if you want to support mothers/ gestational parents in the transformative experience of physiologic, undisturbed birth, this course is for you!
We accommodate students at various levels of experience in the field. No prerequisites – beginners are always welcome!
“I found the course easy to navigate. I was given all the necessary texts and instructions to succeed. The reference material was extremely helpful, as it kept me organized and on track.”
L.N., Winter 2022
COURSE CONTENT
- History and Politics of Midwifery
- Prenatal Care and Complications
- Communication Skills and Trauma-informed Care
- Intuition, Boundaries in Care-giving, Healing the Healer
- Nutritional Counseling
- Sexuality in the Childbearing Cycle, Sexual Abuse Issues
- Facilitating Labor and Supporting Physiologic Birth
- Labor Complications and Transport
- Perineal Assessment and Repair
- Newborn Complications and Neonatal Testing
- Postpartum Care, Breastfeeding, and Emotional Adjustments
- Homeopathy and Herbs in Pregnancy and Birth
- State Licensure and National Certification (CPM)
SKILLS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Skills that are demonstrated include: + taking blood pressure + assessing fundal height + fetal palpation and heart auscultation + pelvic and cervical examination + intramuscular injection + techniques for assessing fetal position by internal exam + how to read a fetal monitor (in case of transport) + hand maneuvers for assisting birth (if necessary) + basic skills for assisting breech birth + techniques for addressing shoulder dystocia, posterior arrest, and retained placenta (including manual removal). And a special bonus–we practice suturing as a group at the final meeting!
“The science-y side of me was tickled by all the information provided in this course. Lab work, and how to interpret it! What you can learn from vaginal exams, like the position of the head from the suture lines, and how this can be used to turn a baby! Getting down on the floor and using my body to mimic the cardinal movements of the baby when being born helped me to feel them. Closing my eyes to listen to fetal heartbeat patterns and to get what each means was invaluable.”
S.K., Summer 2021
SCHEDULE, FEES AND REGISTRATION
Heart & Hands Beginning Intensives meets eight weekend days. Tuition is $2348, non-refundable/non-transferable and payable in advance. To register, send check or money order made out to Elizabeth Davis to 3201 Burnside Rd, Sebastopol CA 95472. Also email me a brief, birth-related bio so I can get to know you better, and please include your address and phone number: elizabeth@elizabethdavis.com
Upon receipt, I will email a confirmation letter with all the details, including required texts and their cost. As the start date draws closer, I will email a PDF of course materials.
If you must miss a class, you can make it up in any subsequent series (space permitting) at a charge of $175, payable in advance.
Upon completion of the beginning course, students may enroll in the virtual Advanced Intensives, which cost $1043, also payable in advance .
Questions? For quick response, text me at (707) 695-6520, or email me at elizabeth@elizabethdavis.com (and please include your phone number).
NOTE: Payment plans are available by special arrangement: contact me for details.
“I had been a doula for 3 years and had a fair amount of basic medical knowledge as a surgical tech, but this class was so in depth and covered so much more than I could have imagined! I especially liked the sessions where we were able to get in smaller groups for discussion.”
L.A., Fall 2020
FURTHERING YOUR MIDWIFERY STUDIES
Students seeking further instruction are encouraged to enroll in the National Midwifery Institute, Inc., a preferred option to pursue MEAC accredited midwifery training. The Beginning and Advanced Heart & Hands courses comprise a preferred prerequisite to NMI’s Midwifery Certificate Program as they provide a strong foundation for more readily completing NMI coursework .
If you are interested in enrolling in NMI, please check the website regarding your state of residence to see if this is an option: https://www.nationalmidwiferyinstitute.com/states-permission-to-operate
Academic credit for Heart & Hands courses has also been granted by National College of Midwifery and Midwives College of Utah (by portfolio process). For students applying to these or other midwifery programs, letters of recommendation/class syllabus are available on request.
“I appreciated being in a safe environment with the opportunity to speak from the heart and be validated in my experiences.”
M.R., Winter 2021
THE INSTRUCTOR
ELIZABETH DAVIS, C.P.M., B.A. has been a midwife, educator, and reproductive health care specialist for over 40 years.
She served as Pacific Regional Representative and the Education Committee chair for Midwives Alliance of North America, President of Midwifery Education Accreditation Council, and consultant to the State of California’s Alternative Birthing Methods Study. She spearheaded the development of the NARM CPM process, calling the first meeting with participation from over 40 states. She holds a degree in Holistic Maternity Care, and is NARM certified. She is Co-Founder of the National Midwifery Institute, Inc.
Her books include:
Orgasmic Birth: Your Guide to a Safe, Satisfying and Pleasurable Birth Experience
Heart & Hands: A Midwife’s Guide to Pregnancy and Birth (2019 newly revised edition)
The Rhythms of Women’s Desire: How Female Sexuality Unfolds at Every Stage of Life
The Women’s Wheel of Life